Mask construction



July 2, 1946. A. H. BULBULIAN MASK CONSTRUCTION iled July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTHUR H BULBULIAN July 2, 1946. .A. H. BULBULIAN MASK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 19,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 I Hun/M1 ARTHUR H. BULBULIAN Patented July 2, 1946 STATES Application July 19,

Claims. 1

My invention relates to a mask construction particularly for the use of aviators at high elevations, and has for its principal object to provide such-a mask construction wherein the portions of the body of the mask contacting the face o the wearer are effectively held to make a perfect, contact therewith and wherein simple and eiiective means are provided for holding the mask upon the face of the aviator and wherein novel means are provided for introducing, positioning, and holding the exhalation valve. Essential factors in the production of masks for aviators are efficient sealing on the face of the aviator effected jointly by the contour of the facecontactingsurface and parts thereof and by the strapping arrangement applied to the body of the mask itself as related to the means for securing it either to the helmet or to head straps of the aviator in conjunction with the air passages for inhalation and exhalation, the exhalation valve and means of applying it within the mask body.

I have discovered that a very effective sealing means is obtainable by providing a member extending transversely across the breathing chambar which lies upon and is tensioned by contact with the upper lip of the wearer, in conjunction with strapping means which applies pressure across the mask substantially above said lipcontacting member and toward the lower part of themask, all positioned relative to the mask body itself and to the air outlet and inlet openings to the mask body and to the size of at least one of the air outlet openings so as to hold the mask body itself to make sealing contact with the engaged contours of the faceand at the same time to permit ready access of the fingers to the exhaling valve chamber and passageways and to the exhaling valve.

It is an object of my invention, therefore. to provide a, mask formed with a body portion having inwardly rolled edges adapted to contact the face and the sides of the nose of the wearer. and having astrip of said mask body extending across the breathing chamber so as to be engaged by the upper lip of the wearer, in conjunction with strapping means secured to the outside of the mask body in such manner that when drawn tight the aforesaid strip will be pressed upon the upper lip of the wearer and will cause the sides of the mask body to be drawn inwardly to effect a good. sealing contact with the nose and cheeks of any type of face, even where the bony contours are in certain respects abnormal.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a mask body having a bottom central inhalaiaas, Serial No. 495,314

tion tube branching laterally within the rolledover edges of the mask body and discharging into the breathing chamber at points just below the outlet of the nostrils and at either side of the mouth, so that when the aforesaid strip is drawn tight upon the upper lip of the wearer, the inlet openings will be conveniently positioned relative to said strip for promoting easy passage of inhalation gas to the breathing assages.

It is a further object of my invention to provide at the point adjacent the bottom of the breathing chamber an exhaling chamber having therein an exhaling valve which opens at each side about the inhaling passageway through short downwardly turned discharge passageways, one of which is made of such a, size as to permit both. introduction of fingers into the valve chamber and opening up for inspection of the valve.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof; and the novel features by which the advantages above outlined are obtained will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating an application of my invention in one of its forms:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a mask embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the mask. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of 3 Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken obliquely through the enlarged side openings leading to the.

valve chamber and showingthe extent of said side opening as adapting the mask for insertion of the exhalation valve, and for inspection of the mask chamber.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

As shown, the mask body it is provided with laterally extending cheek portions ii and i2 and a forward nose-receiving portion I3, rolled over edge portions M and it on either side of the nose portion is running into tubular edge portions I5 and It, which in turn extend into a central tube member N that leads to the rebreathing bag and to the oxygen supply, either continuous flow or demand-type. There is thus formed in the mask body 10 a breathing chamber 18. Extending across the breathing chamber it of mask body 10. as shown in Fig. 5. is a strip it. This divides the face of the breathing chamber into a nosereceiving portion 20. and a mouth-receiving portion 2|. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the strap or 55 band i9 is curved in such a way that it engages 3 i the upper lip of an individual when worn and after the same has been strapped by the means hereinafter described, such engagement will tend to draw the face-contacting portions I 4 and M, l5, and I8 into fitting engagement with the contacted portions of the face of the wearer.

These means comprise a strap 22, Fig. l, which overlies the top front of the mask and is provided at its ends with buckles 23 and 24. These buckles are adapted to be secured to straps, not shown, on a. helmet or head harness so that the mask is .pulled tight against the face oi the wearer. The

, as to cause all of the face-contacting margins to fit themselves to the face of the wearer.

As worn, the nose of the wearer will come into the breathing chamber through the opening 20 above the band l9 and the mouth will be exposed to the breathingchamber through the opening 7 2!. The branch tubes l5 and i6 from the central inlet tube I! open into the breathing chamber at and 26, as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and5. In this position these inlet openings come below and in substantial close proximity to the openings to the nostrils and at each side of the mouth, so that whether breathing takes place through the nose or the mouth, the inlet gases will be re ceived in a balanced manner. A- microphone chamber 21 is positioned in the front of the mask directly in front of the mouth of the wearer and is provided with a sealed tubular extension 28 which may have sealed therein the microphone wire, not shown.

The exhalation valve 29 is located at the botticularly the means comprising the strip l8 extending across the breathing chamber and contacted by the lip of the wearer which in conjunction with the pressure brought upon it by the strapping means, causes the parts of the construction at the sides of the nose to grip the nose oi the wearer at its sides, thus insuring a sealing contact for difl'ering types of nose and cheek contours.

A further great advantage'resides in the arrangement of opening of the breathing passages into the breathing chamber so as to have these p nings disposed in immediate proximity to both the nasal andoral breathing passageways.

A further advantage resides in the arrangement pact size with very short exhalation passages of the margins of the mask as worn, inwardly tom oi the lower breathing chamber 2! as best is in line with the nostrils behind the band l9 and also substantially in line with the wearer's mouth so that the exhalation gases travel over a. short path to the valve and through it into the exhalation chamber and from thence through oulets 3| and 32, straddling and largely surrounding the inhalation tube ll. The exhalation valve 29 embodies a valve body 33 including a multiplicity of openings 34 therethrough and a dished-type valve flap 85 on the outer face thereof. The form of this valve member makes it only practical to insert the valve from the valve chamber toward the front or the mask. For making practically easy such insertion, I have formed exhalation outlet II of a wide cross-section such as to permit the insertion of two fingers into the valve chamber and back oi the valve whereby it may be forced into operative position, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The shape of the opening Si is shown in Fig. 4 as being amply large enough to permit insertion of the first two fingers back of the valve and to get the valve body in place and also to allow opening suilicient for inspecting the chamber back of the valve body, thus enabling a wearer under certain conditions to determine whether ice is being formed back of the exhalation valve and to break up and remove such ice it it is formed.

The advantages of my invention have been quite fully pointed out in the specification heretofore given. These advantages are unusual compactness and simplicity of construction, and parturned flap portionsabout the upper part of the mask as worn, said portions at the apex being engageable by the nose of the wearer, and a straplike member connected with the tubular portions 2. A mask comprising a body portion having mask to be drawn inwardly upon the contacted.

portions of the face of the wearer to seal the breathing chamber over the mouth and nose, and

an inhalation tube having branches opening into the breathing chamber adjacent the ends 01 said strip at points below the nostrils and at the sides of the mouth as the mask is worn.

3. A mask comprising a bodyportion ha ving margins adapted to contact the face oi the wearer and to form a breathing chamber, a strip of material of the body extending across the opening into the breathing chamber, said strip adapted to be positioned beneath the nose and against the lip oi. the wearer, an inhalation tube having is worn, and a pair of exhalation tubes leading from said exhalation chamber and straddling the inhalation tube.

.i. A mask comprising a body portion having margins adapted to contact the face of the wearer and to form a breathing chamber, a strip of material of the body extending across the opening into the breathing chamber, said strip adapted to be positioned beneath the nose and against the lip of the wearer, an inhalation tube having branches opening into the breathing chamber adjacent the ends of said strip at points below the nostrils and at the sides of the mouth as the mask is worn, a valved exhalation chamber at the bottom ofthe breathing chamber directly below the nostrils and adjacent the mouth as the a 6 mask is worn, and a wide exhalation tube leading from said exhalation chamber at one side of the inhalation tube and permitting introduction of the fingers into the exhalation chamber and op ning of the same for inspection thereof.

5. A mask comprising a body portion outwardly extending and open at the front so as to enclose a compact unitary breathing chamber as the mask is worn which receives the mouth and nose of the wearer, an inwardly turned wall at the bottom of said breathing chamber immediately below the mouth of the wearer when the mask is worn,

means forming an exhalation chamber below the breathing chamber and separated therefrom by said wall, an exhalation valve mounted in the wall and opening outwardly into the exhalation chamber, and an exhalation-tube leading from said exhalation chamber, said tube being made wide and flat and extending a short distance so as to permit introduction of the fingers in the tube to open it to enable the exhalation chamber, the separating wall, and the valve opening therethrough to be inspected and cleaned.

ARTHUR H. BULBULIAN. 

